Cleaning sealed terracotta floors?

[loon13]

We're currenly overseas and our house has terracotta floors. That orangey tile. But they are sealed. The cleaning recommendation we were told when we moved in was to use ammonia.

I see no reason why I can't use Dr. Bronner's with a vinegar rinse or something like that. Anyone know for sure?

The biggest problem I see with this type of floor is cleaning the grout. Ugh. It's one of the reasons I hate tile floors like this.

Any suggestions would be very welcome!



Loon

[Spastica]

I'm just hoping vinegar doesn't etch your tile. Baking soda and a little water (in a paste) is great for tile, get a big brush and use the baking soda for the grout. If it's moldy for any reason, you can put some drops of tea tree oil.

[loon13]

Spastica, thanks for your response.

I didn't know vinegar could etch tile. Hmmm. Okay, another alternative needed for that.

I will keep the baking soda in mind for scrubbing the grout when needed.

What to do for regular cleaning, like with a mop or towel? The *whole house* has this tile on the floor.

[Spastica]

How beautiful! I love the look of terra cotta. Mopping is fine - I would get the kind with the wringer closer to where you put your hands so that it saves your back.


Here's a helpful link:

http://www.bagelhole.org/article.php/sanitation/319

http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm

They suggest using vinegar on stone floors (it's really diluted), but maybe you can search online for an acid-free solution. I have read other places where vinegar will etch stone (it's strongly advised not to use lemon or vinegar for any kind of ceramic tile). Plus -- vinegar eats grout. I didn't know that and I used full strength vinegar in my bathtub tile - the grout started coming off or got eaten away. I use a 50-50 diluted vinegar now, and it works fine, but I can totally see how straight vinegar is harmful for that stuff.

Perhaps water with some baking soda diluted in would be good as a "mild detergent." I would make sure it dissolves completely or that too would be too abrasive for the surface of your terracotta. Some of the recipes in the links I gave you has baking soda too. The baking soda and vinegar solutions are buffer solutions, so maybe that would work. You should test a small area on your tile before doing the entire floor.

[loon13]

Many, many thanks. Those are very helpful links!


I did not know that vinegar eats grout. That could definitely be a problem with all the grout around the tiles. I would certainly dilute it then.

I love the look of the terracotta, too. It's the cleaning part that irks me...until I find a solution that is.

Thanks again!!!